Box unloading device



July 6, 1937. c. E. GILBERT BOX UNLOADING DEVICE Filed March 3, 1937 Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES BOX UNLOADING DEVICE:

Charles Emile Gilbert, La Providence, St.

cinthe, Quebec, Canada Hya- Applieation March 3, 1937, Serial No. 128,775

In Canada January 8, 1937 6 Claims.-

' The present invention pertains to a novel box construction and is directed more particularly to a device for unloading or filling the box. In cases where a box contains small articles, such as pills, there is difficulty and inconvenience in removing the articles one at a time.

The object of the invention is to provide a means for conveniently removing such articles one at a time, and although described in connection with a'pill box and pills, is not necessarily limited thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device capable of delivering small articles in rapid succession, regardless of the character of the box.

Whereas ordinarily such articles are removed after lifting the cover, with the attendant danger of spilling the entire contents, the device of the present invention does not require that the cover be removed. Further, persons who are required to take pills or capsules at frequent regular intervals are embarrassed when the necessity occurs in a public place. By means of the present invention, due largely to the fact that the cover need not be removed, one article may be withdrawn while the box is hidden in a pocket or in the hands, and the article then is transferred inconspicuously to the mouth. Further, the danger of spilling the contents is thereby removed, and numerous other associated advantages will occur without specific enumeration thereof.

'The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan section of-a cylindrical pill box modified according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating the remover withdrawn;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the covered box and corresponding Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a corresponding fragmentary diametrical section; V

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the remover;

Figure 6 is a plan-view of the blank from which the remover is made, and

Figure '7 illustrates the invention adapted to a different form of box.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters that are'employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

Figures 1, 2, and 3 illustrate a pill box comprising a bottom section I having a vertical side wall 2 which is normally enclosed in a similar side wall 3 of the cover 4. In order to adapt the box' to the invention, the side walls of the body I and the cover I are respectively formed with a window or opening 5; preferably square. In' this'opening is mounted a member 6 illustrated as a blank in Figure 6. In this form the member 6 is in the shape of a T and is folded and formed for use in the manner illustrated more clearly in Figure 5.

The member 6 is initially stamped out of sheet metal. Next, each branch thereof, corresponding to one end of the head'of theT, is brought into a plane perpendicular to that of the stem of the T, by a right angle bend I across the stem, as may also be seen in Figure 5. Each branch is then' bent'inward upon itself as. indicated by the numeral B at a point beyond the longitudinal edges of the stem of the T. In'linewith the last named edges, thebranches are again bent at a. right angle at" 9, forming cheeks or sides substantially along the last named edges of the stem; These cheeks, with the intermediate portion H between the bends 8, form a compartment having three sides.

At the open side of this compartment, the

a'purpose that will presently be described. The

stem of the T-shaped member 6 lies flat, and a substantially circular ear I'5*is stamped upwardly from thelower portion of the stem; leaving a correspondinglyshapedcircular'opening I4.

In the assembly of" thedevice the slideli is inserted'in the registering Openings 5;until stopped by the'engagement of the folds 8 against the side wall of the cover, leaving these folds and the side I I outward. The folded portions 8 are device is that shown in Figure 1 in which the side I l closes the openings 5. The folds 8, being somewhat spaced from the side wall of the cover, may

be grasped for the purpose of withdrawing the slide 6 to the position shown in Figure 2. A slight tilting of the box brings the articles contained in the box towards the wings l3, which in turn direct these articles towards the side member H. The length of the compartment formed by the sides It! and II is such as to receive only one of the articles. On withdrawal of the slide 6, the diverging sides l9 are brought towards each other in passing through the openings 5. This action also brings the tucks l2 together, restricting the entrance to the compartment so that no more articles may enter. This is clearly illustrated in Figure 2. During this operation, the wings I3 not only prevent the device from being entirely pulled out of the box, but also hold the stem of the T-shaped member 6 in a radial direction through the openings 5, so that the device moves only in a given radial path. The edges of the side wall 2 at the opening 5 are turned back as indicated by numeral 18 to facilitate the movement of the slide 6. The device is held against the bottom of the box by the false bottom l6 superimposed upon it, and is further guided by the ear l5 traveling in the slot ll of the false bottom In the modification illustrated in Figure '7, there is no false bottom I 6, and a radial slot I 9 is formed directly in the bottom 20 of the box. Consequently, the ear 2|, corresponding to the ear it? of Figure 5, is bent downwardly for reception in the slot 19, whereby the sliding member is guided.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising, in combination with a box having an opening in one of its walls, a slide mounted in said opening, said slide having a wall at its forward end and side walls contiguous thereto, forming a compartment with an open side opposite the firstnamed wall, Wings diverging respectively from said side walls and engaging the side wall of the box, said wings being also extended into said open side, said side walls diverging from said front wall, whereby said open side is restricted on drawing said slide outwardly through said opening.

' 2. A device of the character described comprising, in combination with a box having an opening in one of its walls, a slide mounted in said opening, said slide having a wall at its forward end and side walls contiguous thereto, forming a compartment with an open side opposite the firstnamed wall, wings diverging respectively from said side walls and engaging the side wall of the box, said wings being also extended into said open side, said side walls diverging from said front wall, whereby said open side is restricted on drawing said slide outwardly through said opening, the bottom of said box having a radial slot formed therein and beneath said slide, and an ear formed on said slide and inserted in said slot to slide therein.

3. A device of the character described comprising, in combination with a box having an opening in one of its walls, a slide mounted in said opening, said slide having a wall at its forward end and side walls contiguous thereto, forming a compartment with an open side opposite the first-named wall, wings diverging respectively from said side walls and engaging the side wall of the box, said wings being also extended into said open side, said side walls diverging from said front wall, whereby said open side is restricted on drawing said slide outwardly through said opening, a false bottom mounted in said box, said bottom having a radial slot formed therein and disposed beneath said slide, and an ear formed on said slide and inserted in said slot to be guided therein.

4. A device of the character described comprising, in combination with a box having an opening in one of its walls, a slide mounted in said opening, said slide having a wall at its forward end and side walls contiguous thereto, forming a compartment with an open side opposite the first-named wall, wings diverging respectively from said side walls and engaging the side wall of the box, said wings being also extended into said open side, said side walls diverging from said front wall, whereby said open side is restricted on drawing said slide outwardly through said opening, said slide being formed of a single piece of stamped metal folded and bent to form parts described, and being T-shaped when unfolded to a fiat condition.

5. A device of the character described comprising, in combination with a box having an opening in one of its walls, a slide mounted in said opening, said slide having a wall at its forward end and side walls contiguous thereto, forming a compartment with an open side opposite the first-named wall, wings diverging respectively from said side walls and engaging the side wall of the box, said wings being also extended into said open side, said side walls diverging from said front wall, whereby said open side is restricted on drawing said slide outwardly through said opening, said forward wall having a width greater than said opening, to provide finger pieces for actuating said slide and to prevent said wall from passing through said opening to the interior of the box.

6. A'device of the character described comprising, in combination with a box having an opening in one of its walls, a slide mounted in said opening, said slide having a wall at its forward end and side walls contiguous thereto, forming a compartment with an open side opposite the firstnamed wall, wings diverging respectively from said side walls and engaging the side wall of the box, said wings being also extended into said open side, said side walls diverging from said front wall, whereby said open side is restricted on drawing said slide outwardly through said opening, the bottom of said box-having a radial slot formed therein and beneath said slide, and an ear formed on said slide and inserted in saidslot to slide therein, said forward wall having a greater width than said opening, to provide finger pieces for actuatingsaid slide and to prevent said wall from passing through said opening to the interior of the box.

CHARLES EMILE GlLBERT. 

